Sheet tissue dispensing carton



April 2, 1963 w. M. STRANGE 3,083,866

swam TISSUE DISPENSING CARTON Filed Feb. 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F I 55'. 1 fag a /3 //4\Z9 I I9 INVENTOR. [Wu/4M M 57244155 A/fdkA/EY United States Patent Ollice 3,083,856 Patented Apr. 2, 1953 3,.ll83,866 SHEET TldSUE DISPENSHNG CARTQN William M. Strange, Neenah, Wis, assignor to John Strange arton Company, Menasha, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Feb. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 314%? 8 Qiaixns. (Cl. 221-48) This invention relates to the carton art and more particularly to the construction of a carton blank and carton therefrom which has particular utility in dispensing interfolded tissues or wiping papers.

Facial tissue of soft paper material has been known to the art for some time and a convenient manner of dispensing such tissues has been developed in the form of boxes which compactly hold a stack of interfolded tissues so cut and arranged as to be capable of dispensing through an opening formed at the top of the box created by removing a perforated portion therefrom. Because of the interfolded arrangement of the sheets, the act of pulling one sheet from the "box will frictionally lift out the upper margin of the next tissue, thus readying each following tissue one at a time for removal in their entirety from the box.

The use of interfolded tissues has been extended to industrial wiping as in cases where small amounts of grit chemicals or grease may ruin delicate surfaces of machinery or manufactured articles. it has been found that even where extreme care is taken in the manufacture of the wipes themselves, if they are dispensed through a box top having all or most of its area open, there will be ample opportunity for dust, grit and condensed vapor to settle upon the wipes within the box. Further, while the wipes may be made from paper material which has been virtually freed from contamination, the paper board from which the container box is made need not, and is not, made from material which meets such high standards of purity. However, if dust or particles from the paper board container fall upon a wipe, then the latter becomes contaminated and delicate surfaces may become coated or scratched sufiiciently to damage the surface. The tearing of paper board boxes along perforated or partially cut lines will create severed edges which have torn and loose shreds from which contaminating particles can be easily loosened, particularly if the shreds are formed from cut lines which run across the grain of the paper board.

It is within the contemplation of the present invention and a general object thereof to overcome the foregoing objections to prior art dispensing cartons and to provide a carton blank and carton therefrom which will be inexpensive and efficient in its preparation, construction and use.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a dispensing carton for interfolded tissues in which the contents will be protected from outside contamination, both prior to and following opening of the carton for use.

Further, it is an object of the invention to provide a carton of the class described which may be simply and rapidly opened to present a dispensing conformation capable of positively advancing a tissue whenever the preceding tissue has been withdrawn from the box until the very last one has been dispensed.

Still further, it is an object of the invention to provide panel flaps associated with the dispensing opening which will present edges substantially free from grit or other particle contamination and which will exert a restrictive and resilient force against each tissue as it is withdrawn so as to temporarily retain its interfold with the next tissue and partially eject the latter while preserving the remaining tissues in uncontaminated readiness for use.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the carton blank from which the dispenser carton is made;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the closed and sealed dispensing carton;

FIG. 3 is a similar perspective view of the dispensing carton with the cover opened for access to tissues;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical segment taken on the line 55 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly 1G. 1, the carton blank there shown is constructed from a sheet ill of paper board or similar material which is stiff but capable of being cut, scored and perforated. The carton blank it; in turn has a bottom panel 11, side panels 12 and 13 respectively, cover panels 14 and 15 respectively and pairs of end wall flaps i6, 17, i8, 19 and 25) joined respectively to the ends of each of the aforementioned panels. Each of the end flap panels is separated from the next by a out line 21 as shown and is joined to its respective side panel in a fold line 22 thus forming straight and continuous longitudinal lines at each side of the carton blank ill.

The side panels 12 and 13 are joined respectively to the bottom panel 11 in spaced parallel fold lines 23 and 24. Cover panels 14 and 15 are joined respectively to side panels 12 and 13 in fold lines 25 and 26, the latter also being parallel to the fold lines 23 and 24. It will be noted that all of the cut lines 21 are aligned with. the fold lines lying between the panels as noted.

An important feature of the invention resides in the special construction of the cover panels 14 and 15. Cover panel 14 has a smooth and straight dispensing edge 27 which is adapted, when the carton is constructed, to resiliently contact each tissue as it is withdrawn from the dispensing carton. Dispensing edge 27 is so formed as not to deposit any contaminating material on the tissues. In the form shown, the dispensing edge 27 has a length such that its terminal ends 28 lie inwardly in spaced relation With the fold lines 22 which in turn define the end edges of the box when assembled. Relief slits 29 are cut laterally inward from the ends 28 of the dispensing edge 27 as shown and prevent the pinching of tissues during dispensing thereof.

A tear line 3% is formed transversely of a portion of the cover panel 14, the line 30 being perforated or otherwise weakened from the dispensing edge 27 inwardly to the slit line 31, the latter preventing pinching of tissues and also discouraging the accidental continuance of tearing when the tear line St} is severed. Score lines 32 are formed in such a manner as to join the ends 28 of dispensing edge 27 with the inner end of the tear line 34 In a similar manner of the cover panel 15 at the opposite end of carton blank 10 has a smooth and straight dispensing edge 33 which is substantially continuous for its ength except for a small portion which will be subsequently described. The dispensing edge 33 terminates at ends 34 which in turn lie inwardly in spaced relation with the respective end fold lines 22. End portions 35 of the cover panel 15 form offset tab areas extending outwardly and beyond the ends 34. Here again, short slit portions 36 are employed to give relief against pinching during the dispensing of the tissues.

For a short portion of the length of the dispensing edge 33, an intermediate tab 37 is joined to the main portion of cover panel 15 by a severable line which forms a portion of the dispensing edge 33 when the tab 37 is separated from panel 15. The position of the tab 37 with respect to the dispensing edge 33 is such that a minimum of contact occurs between the tissue and the edge at this point. A tear line 39 is formed transversely of the dispensing edge 33 and extends inwardly in cover panel 15 to terminate at the lateral short slit 40 and also extends outwardly through the tab 37 as shown. Here again, scored lines 41 may be interposed between the ends 34 of the dispensing edge 33 and the inner end at slit 40 of the tear line '39.

Referring now to FIG. 2, when a carton is produced from the blank of FIG. 1, the side panels 12 and 13 are bent at right angles along fold lines 23 and 24 respectively so as to extend upwardly of the bottom panel and then the cover panels 14 and are folded inwardly in consecutive manner about fold lines 25 and 26 so that the tabs 35 overlap a portion of the cover panel 14. These tab portions '35 are adapted to be glued or otherwise secured to cover panel 14 with the dispensing edge 33 of panel 15 lying substantially coincident, or in slight overlapping relation with the corresponding dispensing edge 27 of the panel 14. It will also be noted that the tab 37 overlaps a portion of the cover panel 14 and may be glued or otherwise secured thereto in such a manner that tear line 39 lies in alignment with tear line 30'.

With interfolded tissues 42 placed within the carton as shown in FIG. 4, the end flaps 1620' are folded about their respective portions of fold line 22. at each end in overlapping relation as shown in FIG. 2 and are then secured together to form the end closure of the carton.

When it is desired to open and use the dispensing carton, the tab B7 is readily severed from the cover panel 15 along the severable line 3-8 by an instrumentality such as a knife or fingernail. The tear lines 30 and 39 are then severed and triangular areas 43 in cover panel 14 and 44 in cover panel 15 are bent around their respective fold lines 32 and 41 in such a manner as to form a resilient dispensing opening as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. It will be observed that the short slit lines 29 and 36 form a relief at the ends of the dispensing edges 27 and 33 and hence, can restrict or narrow the width of each tissue 42 as it passes through the dispensing opening without pinching the edges thereof at the opening ends. The dispensing edges 27 and 33 exert a frictional drag upon each tissue without tearing or unduly hindering the withdrawal thereof. The rstriction and frictional drag are such as to positively pull each succeeding tissue into place in the opening, irrespective of whether the tissue is withdrawn rapidly or slowly. Also, it will be observed that the resilient character of the triangular flaps 43 and 44 virtually close the opening each time a tissue is withdrawn thereby maintaining the tissues remaining in the box in uncontaminated condition.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangements and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a carton for dispensing inter-folded sheets of tissue, a cover therefor having spaced end edges and spaced side edges, said cover comprising a first panel having a smooth elongated dispensing edge lying inwardly from one side edge of the cover and extending for a portion of the panel length, a second panel in substantially the same plane with the first panel and having a smooth elongated dispensing edge lying inwardly from the other side edge of said cover and adjacent said first panel dispensing edge and being releasably secured closely adjacent the first mentioned dispensing edge, the length of said dispensing edge of said second panel corresponding substantially to that of said first panel, and a single tear line formed transversely across said dispensing edges and extending outwardly toward said side edges into each of said panels whereby, upon severing the panels along said tear line and separating the dispensing edges, a resilient dispensing opening will be formed.

2. In a carton for dispensing interfolded sheets of tissue, a cover therefor having spaced end edges and spaced side edges, said cover comprising a first panel having an elongated dispensing edge of smooth and straight character lying inwardly from one side edge of the cover and extending tor a portion of the panel length, a second panel in substantially the same plane with the first panel and having an elongated dispensing edge of smooth and straight character lying inwardly from the other side edge of said cover, the length of said dispensing edge of said second panel corresponding substantially to that of said first panel, said first and second panels overlapping slightly at said dispensing edges and being releasably secured together, a single tear line formed transversely across said dispensing edges and extending outwardly toward said side edges into each of said panels whereby, upon severing the panels along said tear line and separating the dispensing edges, a resilient dispensing opening will be formed.

3. In a carton for dispensing interfolded sheets of tissue, a cover therefor having spaced end edges and spaced side edges, said cover comprising, a first panel having an elongated dispensing edge lying inwardly from one side edge of the cover and extending for a portion of the panel length, a second panel in substantially the same plane with the first panel and having an elongated dispensing edge lying inwardly from the other side edge of said cover and being releasably secured closely adjacent the first mentioned dispensing edge, the length of said dispensing edge of said second panel corresponding substantially to that of said first panel, a tab severably joined to, and extending from, the dispensing edge of said second panel, said tab being secured against said first panel, and a single tea-r line formed transversely across said dispensing edges and extending outwardly toward said side edges into each of said panels whereby, upon severing the panels along said tear line and separating the dispensing edges, a resilient dispensing opening will be formed.

4. In a carton for dispensing interfolded sheets of tissue, a cover therefor having spaced end edges and spaced side edges, said cover comprising a first panel having an elongated dispensing edge lying inwardly from one side edge of the cover and extending for a portion of the panel length, a second panel in substantially the same plane with the first panel and having an elongated dispensing edge lying inwardly from the other side edge of said cover and being releasably secured closely adjacent the first mentioned dispensing edge, the length of said dispensing edge of said second panel corresponding substantially to that of said first panel, -a tab joined to the dispensing edge of said second panel in a severable line, and a single tear line formed transversely across said dispensing edges and across said tab and extending outwardly toward said side edges into each of said panels whereby, upon severing the panels along said tear line and separating the dispensing edges, a resilient dispensing opening will be formed.

5. In a carton for dispensing inter'folded sheets of tissue, a cover therefor having spaced end edges and spaced side edges, said cover comprising a first panel having an elongated dispensing edge lying inwardly from one side edge of the cover, a second panel in substantially the same plane with the first panel and having an elongated dispensing edge lying inwardly from the other side of said cover and being releasably secured closely adjacent the first mentioned dispensing edge, said dispensing edges being co-extensive in length and terminating inwardly from respective end edges of the cover, a single tear line formed transversely across said dispensing edges and extending outwardly toward said side edges into each of said panels, and a scored fold line consecutively interconnecting the end-s of said transverse tear line with the ends of said dispensing edges, whereby, upon severing the panels along said tear line and separating the dispensing edges, a resilient dispensing opening defined by triangular flap portions will be formed.

6. In a carton for dispensing interfolded sheets of tissue, a cover therefor having spaced end edges and spaced side edges, said cover comprising, a first panel having an elongated dispensing edge lying inwardly from one side edge of the cover, a second panel in substantially the same plane with the first panel and having an elongated dispensing edge lying inwardly from the other side edge of said cover and being releasably secured closely adjacent the first mentioned dispensing edge, said dispensing edges being co-extensive in length and having ends which terminate inwardly in spaced relation to the respective end edges of said cover, a tear line formed transversely across said dispensing edges and into each of said panels, and short slits cut laterally of the dispensing edges and the transverse tear line at their respective ends whereby to prevent pinching of tissues when dispensed and also to minimize likelihood of accidental tearing beyond the ends of said dispensing edges and tear line.

7. A carton blank for an interfolded tissue dispenser comprising, a bottom panel, a pair of side panels joined respectively in parallel fold lines at opposed sides of said bottom panel, a firs-t cover panel joined to one of said side panels in a told line parallel to the bottom panel fold line, said first cover panel having a straight free edge, a single first tear line formed in said first cover panel and extending inwardly from said straight free edge, a second cover panel joined to the other of said side panels in a fold line parallel to the bottom fold lines, said second cover panel having a straight free edge and a pair of tabs defining the ends of said free edge and extending somewhat therebeyond, both endwise and laterally, a single second tear line formed intermediate said pair of tabs and extending laterally inward from said free edge, said first tear line being positioned for substantial alignment with said second tear line when said cart-on blank is formed into a dispenser, and end panel flaps joined in fold lines respectively to the ends of each of said bottom panel, said side panels and said cover panels.

8. A carton blank for an interfolded tissue dispenser comprising, a bottom panel, a pair of side panels joined respectively in parallel fold lines at opposed sides of said bottom panel, a first cover panel joined to one of said side panels in a fold line parallel to the bottom panel told lines, said first cover panel having a straight free edge, a

' single first tear line formed in said first cover panel and extending inwardly from said straight free edge, a second cover panel joined to the other of said side panels in a fold line parallel to the bottom fold lines, said second cover panel having a straight free edge and a pair of tabs defining the ends of said free edge and extending somewhat therebeyond both endwise and laterally, an intermediate tab joined to said stragiht free edge of the second cover panel in a severable line, a single second tear line formed laterally inward from said free edge and outwardly therefrom through said intermediate tab, said first tear line being positioned for substanital alignment with said second tear line when said carton blank is formed into a dispenser, and end panel flaps joined in fold lines respectively to the ends of each of said bottom panel, said side panels and said cover panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 718,058 Sexton Jan. 6, 1903 1,588,733 Hoberg June '15, 1926 1,773,652 Traver Aug. 19, 1930 2,171,415 Haney Aug. 29, '1939 2,323,395 Harwood July 6, 1943 2,519,261 Lorrance Aug. 19, 1950 2,598,050 Guyer May 27, 1952 2,953,293 Anderson Sept. 20, 1960 

1. IN A CARTON FOR DISPENSING INTERFOLDED SHEETS OF TISSUE, A COVER THEREFOR HAVING SPACED END EDGES AND SPACED SIDE EDGES, SAID COVER COMPRISING A FIRST PANEL HAVING A SMOOTH ELONGATED DISPENSING EDGE LYING INWARDLY FROM ONE SIDE EDGE OF THE COVER AND EXTENDING FOR A PORTION OF THE PANEL LENGTH, A SECOND PANEL IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PLANE WITH THE FIRST PANEL AND HAVING A SMOOTH ELONGATED DISPENSING EDGE LYING INWARDLY FROM THE OTHER SIDE EDGE OF SAID COVER AND ADJACENT SAID FIRST PANEL DISPENSING EDGE AND BEING RELEASABLY SECURED CLOSELY ADJACENT THE FIRST MENTIONED DISPENSING EDGE, THE LENGTH OF SAID DISPENSING EDGE OF SAID SECOND PANEL CORRESPONDING SUBSTANTIALLY TO THAT OF SAID FIRST PANEL, AND A SINGLE TEAR LINE FORMED TRANSVERSELY ACROSS SAID DISPENSING EDGES AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY TOWARD SAID SIDE EDGES INTO EACH OF SAID PANELS WHEREBY, UPON SERVERING THE PANELS ALONG SAID TEAR LINE AND SEPARATING THE DISPENSING EDGES, A RESILIENT DISPENSING OPENING WILL BE FORMED. 